Edwin j



(NoMoael.) v

l E. J. YONGS.

SLEIGH KNEE.

Patented Mar. l2, 1889.

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EDIVIN J. YOUNGS, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE OASTREE MALLERYCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SLEIGH-KNEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,642, dated March12, 1889.

Application iilecl Gotcha' 16, 1888. 'Serial No. 288,203. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. YOUNGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State oli' Michigan,have invented a new and useful Improve ment in Sleigh-Knees, oil whichthe following is a speciiication. 7

Theobject of this invention is to provide a simple, cheap, durable, andeiiective sleighknee, wherein all loose joints and connections areavoided 5 and it consists in a certain novel construction andcombination of devices fully described hereinafter in connection withthe accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bob-sleigh providedwith my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section. Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view taken centrally through one of the knees.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A A designate the runners, to whichare attached the standards l B, having transverse channels l) l) intheir upper ends; and C designates a flat metallic torsion-plate, whichis arranged at its ends in the said channels and is bolted securely tothe standards.

D designates pins which are rigid with the standard, (preferably :formedintegral therewith, as shown in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 3,) and theyextend vertically through apertures c near the ends of the torsion-plateand extend a short distance above the same.

E designates the beam, which provided at its ends withdownwardly-tapered openings or slots e e, which align with apertures fin the convex plates F, which are atlixed to the lower side ot' the beamat its ends. The rounded under sides of these convex plates bear on theupper side of the torsion-plate, and the pins D pass through theregisteringopenings in the beams and the plates and thereby hold thesame in place on the knee. The beam is provided on its upper side withtransverse grooves G, having rounded iioors, and H H represent met-alliebraces which are secured at their ends to the runner in front and rearof the knees and pass at intermediate points through the said grooves inthe beam. These braces are provided with central apertures, 7'1., whichfit over the upper ends of the pins D. The king-bolt I extendsvertically through registering-openings in the centers of thetorsion-plate and the beam, and the bolster K is mounted on the upperextended end of the said king-bolt and bears on the upper side of thebeam. The front end of the reach L is attached to a plate, l, which issecured to the bolster by means of the said king-bolt.

The advantages of this sleigh will now be readily seen. As the runnerspass over an uneven surface, they rock or oscillate freely, therebytwisting the torsion-plattv Lhe said plate by its spring action bringingthe runners back to their proper position after the strain is removed.Thus the opposite knees are connected firmly together, so that lateralstrain is 'resisted and at the same time 'free oscillating movement isallowed. Then the runners are oscillated, the beam remains stationary,owing to its connection with the bolster, and the torsion-plate rocks onthe lower side of the beam. It will be readily understood that thepeculiar manner ot connecting the beam to the standard is calculated toallow free oscillatory movement of the latter.

I am aware that it is old to provide connections between the beam andthe knees whereby a free oscillating movement of the latter ispermitted, and this I do not desire to claim. The looseness of therunners, due to the usual manner of connecting them, is, however,objectionable, and to overcome this objection I connect the oppositeknees by a transverse 'plate or bar of any desired sectional shape,(preferably iiat,) which twists when the runners are strained andreturns the latter to their original relative positions when the strainis removed.

Having thus described the invention, I claiml.. In a bob-sleigh, thecombination, with the standards secured to the runners at oppositepoints, of the torsion-plate connected at its ends to the standards, andthe bolster swiveled at its center to the torsioirplate, whereby therunners are allowed free oscillating movement independent of each otherIOO and of the bolster, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

2. In a bob-sleigh, the combination, with the standards attached to therunners, of the torsion-plate connecting the upper ends or" the saidstandards, and the beam provided on its under side With convex platesbearing on the torsion-plate and secured in position by vertical pins,substantially as speciied.

3. In a bob-sleigh, the combination, with the standards afxed to therunners and provided at their upper ends With vertical pins D, of thetorsion-plate connecting the upper ends ot' the standards and providedwith apertures fitting over the said pins, the beam provided withtapered openings or slots fitting the pins, and the convex plates on theunder side of the beam. bearing on the torsion-plate, substantially asspecified.

4. In a bob-sleigh, the combination of the runners, the standardssecured to the runners and provided With the transverse channels b intheir upper ends, the torsion-plate affixed at its ends in the saidchannels, the pins D rigid with the standards and passing verticallythrough the said torsion-plate, the beam provided With openings fittingover the pins and having convex plates bearing on the torsion-plate, andthe braces secured at their ends to the runners and passing atintermediate points through transverse grooves in the upper side of thebeam, substantially as speciiied.

5. In a bob-sleigh, the runners having the standards, the pins D,extending upward from and rigid with the standards, the torsionplate F,extending across and connecting the standards, the beam E, rounded onthe under side and bearing at said rounded side on the torsionplate, thetapered openings in the beam, through which openings the pins D pass,and the braces H, connected With the runners and passing over the top ofthe beam and receiving the upper end of the pins D, as set forth. I

6. In a bob-sleigh, the runners having the standards, the torsion plateT, extending across and connecting the standards, and the beam E,rounded on the under side and bearing at said rounded side on thetorsion-plate, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myoWn Ihave hereto affixed mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

' EDWIN J. YOUNGS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. J. BRAFORD, DAVID HALSEY.

